Albert Bach

Albert Bach ( born November 29, 1910 in Treffen, Carinthia, † July 22, 2003 in Graz) was an Austrian general of infantry and in the years 1963-1972 Commander of Group II (Styria, Carinthia ) in Graz.

Life

After graduating Bach joined the army in 1931 in a, completed from 1932 to 1935 the Theresa Military Academy and was born on September 1, 1935 to lieutenant in Carinthia Infantry Regiment No. 7 retired. At the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch, he was team leader of the Austrian Olympic team for military ski patrol run and finished with her fourth place.

After the occupation of Austria in 1938 by the German Empire adopted as a first lieutenant in the German Wehrmacht, he made with the Polish campaign in 1939 with the Mountain Infantry Regiment 139 and the Narvik company in 1940 on the staff of the 3rd Mountain Division. From autumn 1940 to early 1941, graduated as a captain of the general staff course at the military school in Berlin. Then he took the staff of the 12th Army participate in the Balkan campaign and the invasion of Crete. In the campaign against the Soviet Union, he was in 1941 during the advance through the Baltic Second General Staff Officer of the 30th Infantry Division, in 1942 first general staff officer of an army corps in the battles for Demyansk and from May 1943 to August 1944 during the defensive battles in the North-West Russia and retreat in the Baltics first general staff officer of the 30th Infantry Division. In late November 1943, he was Lieutenant-Colonel from September 1944 until end of the war he was first general staff officer of the 16th Army, which was involved in the fighting around Riga and on the defensive battles in Courland. In May 1945, he fell into Soviet captivity, from which he was discharged in 1948.

After working in the private sector Bach came on July 26, 1956 in the Federal Army of the Second Republic and became head of the Organization Department. From 1 March 1958 to 1 July 1961, he was Deputy Head of the Section II and thus closest advisor of the General Inspector General of Infantry troops Erwin Fussenegger. During this time he was much involved in the formation of the new army of the Second Republic. After the changes in the department under federal Minister Karl Schleinzer, which led to a limitation of the powers of the General Inspector troops, was for Bach the Ministry no longer room and he was entrusted with the command of the senior officer courses. Without resentment, he devoted himself to his new use. He led the 3rd General Staff course to a successful end and converted the existing modest course command to a new educational institution of the army - the Staff College. On 1 July 1961 he became commander of the new facility, from which emerged the later National Defence Academy, whose foundations he had created with his construction work.

By July 15, 1963 he was appointed commander of the group II (Styria and Carinthia ) and January 1, 1964 he was promoted to Major General. Again, he devoted himself to his new sphere of action and pressed his association the stamp of his personality. In the years under his command guidance, the impact strength of the troops was in numerous exercises and by pulses of various kinds strengthened and raised the level of education. On 1 January 1969 he was promoted to General of the Infantry.

While triggered by the service periods in 1970 efforts to reform the Armed Forces General engaged in the reform commission and tried to propose by incoming memoranda provide a neat solution. When his efforts failed, he asked in 1972 the Federal Minister for his serious concerns about the proposed restructuring of the troops ostensibly to be relieved from his position. This was done with the year he retired.

Knew only his close environment that Bach was not only an impressive military figure, but also had widespread cultural interests and an above-average artistic talent that he brought primarily as a watercolorist subtle expression.

Awards

• Bronze Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria
• 1940: Iron Cross First Class and
• 1943: German Cross in Gold
• Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria ( severity unknown)
• Ring of Honor of the Province of Styria